Brooke Commissioners oppose Amendment 2
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WELLSBURG -- The Brooke County Commission Wednesday voiced opposition to a proposed amendment to the state constitution, saying it will result in a significant loss in local funding if it's approved by voters in the Nov. 8 general election.
Dubbed the Property Tax Modernization Amendment, it would allow the state legislature to eliminate property tax on machinery and equipment directly used by businesses and on motor vehicles owned by businesses and residents.
The commissioners and County Coordinator Adrienne Ward said the latter provision is appealing to many voters, but as written, the amendment doesn't guarantee the state Legislature will phase out the tax on vehicles.
County Commissioner Stacey Wise said legislators supporting the amendment have said cutting the state's inventory tax on machinery and equipment would attract new businesses to West Virginia.
But Wise and others said the amendment would result in a significant loss in revenue to the state's counties and school districts.
Commission President A.J. Thomas said if the inventory and motor vehicle taxes are eliminated, it will mean a loss of about $11.2 million for the county.
"That's substantial, very substantial," said Thomas.
He noted the state's county commissions have a constitutional obligation to provide certain services, but not others that would be jeopardized without sufficient support.
County Commissioner Tim Ennis said such services include the county's ambulance service, animal shelter, library and others supported by county levies that also are supported by such property taxes.
The commissioners on Tuesday attended a training program held by the state Auditor's Office at which three plans were presented in the event the taxes are cut.
Wise said she and other county officials aren't convinced state officials can make up for the lost revenue and are unsatisfied with the state legislature having much greater control over each county's funding and spending.
"One level of government shouldn't be able to control another level of government's source of revenue," said Thomas.
Wise said supporters have suggested the inventory tax has been a barrier for new business development, but she and others have heard the conditions of local roads and access to adequate infrastructure, including high-speed Internet service, have been a greater concern for potential developers.
Wise said economic development would be better supported by applying a $1 billion surplus recently reported by state officials to such improvements.
She added relying largely on state funding will make it difficult for county officials to make budget projections.
The commissioners said they also will share their concerns with local representatives to the state legislature.
In other business:
≤ Resident Virgil Birkhimer asked the commission to support paving sections of the Panhandle Trail that aren't in the city of Weirton.
The trail extends from Police Lodge Road just outside of Weirton through Colliers to the Pennsylvania state line.
Ennis said he'd heard the city's park board had applied for state funds to pave those areas, adding he will check into it.
≤ Ennis said many residents of Washington Pike have complained of frequent power outages that while short, have been a disruption to their daily routines.
He advised those residents and others having a similar experience to report the outages as a "reliability issue" by calling (800) 686-0022.